This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Thanks David B Gammon for the records re Godwin Cotten who died in 1837 in Tarboro!
looking for male line Cotten/on desc. to take part http://cottondna.family.nf/

3. William Cotten ca 1736 – 1797 Halifax Co NC The will of William Cotton, Halifax County 2 May 1797 – proved August Court 1797 Will Book 3, page 287
-To my brother-in-law Nelson Pass – one Negro
– Wife Mary Cotton – all the land and plantation where I now live for her lifetime, and if she marries, she is to draw a child’s part of my land.
– After my wife’s marriage the remaining part of my land is to go to the child my daughter-in-law Elizabeth Cotton is now pregnant with, but if the child should die under 18 years of age, the land where I now live is to be sold and money equally divided between Frederick Cotton, Nelson Pass, Dolly Cotton (daughter of Cillia Pass), and Winefred Pitman (daughter of Cilia Pittman).
– Reside of my estate to my wife Mary, and at her death to go to Elizabeth Cotton’s child, but if this child should die this property will fall to my wife’s relations, namely William Pass, Willis Pass, Hunt Pass, Nelson Pass, and the children of Mathew Jackson, of whom Joseph John Jackson is a child.
Ex. my wife, Robert Cockran, Randolph Cotton
Wit. Elkanah Hare (Ham), Samuel Alsobrook, Fanny Cotton

married 1st Elizabeth Wills ca 1753 – bef 1797a. Randolph Cotten 1769 – 1852 Tarboro dsp
mercantile buisness for over fifty years on lot where the Town Hall now standsWill of Randolph Cotten of Tarborough 9 July 1847 – Aug Ct 1852
– to Elizabeth Scott [free woman of color residing in this town] – life estate in 1/4 part of Town Lot #15 which adjoins Joseph J Porter and adjoins Lot #26; also a life estate in Lot #26 adjoining Main St, dwelling house furniture, dividends from stock in Bank of Cape Fear.
– nephew Frederick R Cotten of Florida [son of Spencer D Cotten, late of Tarborough] — all my bank stock except the 9 shares in Bank of Cape Fear mentioned above, books and pamphlets.
– to John W Cotten [infant son of my nephew, the late John W Cotten] – land I purchased of Michael Hearn and wife called the Sutton Place on the north side of the Tar River adj. Dr. C L Dicken, Allen Jones, and John Daniel and containing 520 acres, except for one acre which I have conveyed to the school committee on which the schoolhouse stands.
– to the said John W Cotten – Negroes Scipio, Chilts, and Louis.
– to Mary Dunning [wife of —- Dunning of Washington County, formerly Mary Cotten and daughter of the late Alexender Cotten] – my bed and walnut desk.
– niece Eliza Powell [wife of Jesse Powell] – substantial sideboard.
– sister Elizabeth Pitman – $50.
– to Randolph C Pitman “now the only child of my nephew Spier Pitman of Halifax County” – $150.
– to Nephew Frederick R Pitman [son of the said Elizabeth Pitman] – $250.
– to Margaret Eliza Cotten, Arabella Clark Cotten, Florida Call Cotten, and the said John W Cotten [ children of my said nephew, the late John W Cotten] – the balance of my estate.
– my executors are to erect a comfortable frame house on the Sutton Place for each of my aged slaves King and Primus and set apart land for them to cultivate. In case they become to aged to work I change the legacy of my nephew Frederick R Cotten with one half to the children of John W Cotten and the other half to be used for the comfortable subsistence of said slaves. As King’s wife is free and the wife of Primus belongs to Robert D Wimberley, Esq., I request they all be allowed to live together. In case my old woman Phillis shall return to Edgecombe, I make the same provision for her support as for King and Primus.
EX: friends Jesse Powell, Henry T Clark, William Norfleet
WIT: Henry Hyman, S E Moore
Codicil 23 June 1849
– to nephew Frederick R Cotten – five shares in Bank of Cape Fear.
– to the said John W Cotten – tract of land recently purchased of Henry T Clark containing 160 acres
Codicil 26 June 1851
I revoke the legacy to my sister Elizabeth Pittman and bequeath the said $50 to Randolph C Pittman [infant child of Spier Pitman] in addition to that already bequeathed to him
Codicil 19 July 1852
– John W Cotten and Mary Dunning [formerly Mary Cotten] – the parts of Lots #15 and #26 I have purchased, subject to the life estate of Elizabeth Scott.

In the name of God Amen, I George C. Patterson of Madison County and State of Mississippi aware of the uncertainty of human life and being at present in low health but of sound mind and disposing memory do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament.
1st. It is my will that my debts be paid.
2nd. I give and bequeath unto my kind father Randolph Cotton of Tarborough North
Carolina one half of all my property consisting chiefly of money and other personal estate in consideration of the great kindness which he has at all times shown me.
3rd. I give and bequeath the other half of all my property to my relation Margaret Fort of Tarboro North Carolina who has always shown me much affection and friendship.
4th. I appoint William S. Raynor to be executor of this my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of February 1839. Signed sealed and delivered as and for the will of George C. Patterson.
/s/ G. C. Patterson
in presence of Wm. McBride, Gardner Falkner, R. Barrington
e-mail from Kimberly Morris

Will of Godwin Cotton of Tarborough 28 Mar 1834 – Feb Ct 1837
– to Jamison & Godwin Cotten [son(s) of Arthur S Cotten] – $250
– to Edwin Whitehead [son of Joseph Whitehead dec’d] – $250
– to Frederick R Cotten, Mary Cotten, William H. Willis and Eliza Pitman [daughter of Robert John Pittman] – money arising from the sale of my house and lot in Tarborough.
– to Laura P Cotten [wife of John W Cotten] Eliza Tompson [wife of Noah Tompson] and Ephraim Dickins of Tarborough – all my Negroes except for Eli.
– I give my Negro man Eli his freedom and $300 left in the hands of my executors for his support in case of accident or need.
– to George and Mary [ the mulatto children who are the property of Spencer D Cotten] – $400 and it is my will that Ephraim Dickins, Laura P Cotten, and Eliza Tompson procure the freedom of George and Mary and that they are protected in case of need.
– After debts are paid the balance of my money is to be divided between Henry T Irwin, Thomas B Irwin, and Christopher L Dickins.
EX: friends Spencer D Cotten, William H Willis, and Ephraim Dickens
WIT: Isacc B Brady, Coffield King
[Probate indicates will was contested by Joseph B Whitehead, John Exum, Canada Howell, John Whitehead, and Clinch Howell, but a jury found the will valid.]

e-mail from Ken V Smith 1997 — Stephen F Austin. “Translation of the Laws, Orders, and Contracts, on Colonization from January 1821, Up to This Time, In Virtue of Which Col. Stephen F. Austin, has Introduced and Settled Foreign Emigrants in Texas, With an Explanatory Introduction – San Filipe [sic] De Austin: Printed by Godwin B Cotten, November 1829. –the first book printed in Texas.
In Stephen F Austin’s Register book on page 43 of book 1, in the Municipality of Austin: #10 Godwin B Cotton, 39 years of age, single, printer, from Louisisana, arrived 10 Aug 1829. took oath 2 Dec. The entries are not dated but should be about 1834/35 which would make Godwin B Cotton born about 1796/97.

I think this may be the person Ken was looking for back then. smk

married 2nd Mary Pass Not sure where this William Cotton fits in —- He is listed in the 1790 Halifax tax list with 300 acres, and Molly Cotton is there in the same district in 1800 with the same 300 acres – but she disappears in the 1802 list.

*Note – I suggest these people belong are sons of Robert Cotten.– On 1 Jan 1779, in Henry Co VA – the Names of Lazarus Cotten and John Cotten appear on the oath of Allegiance required of all males over the age of 16.
– On his pension Application John Frederick Dorman said in substituted for Lazarus Cotten in 1782 and marched to Bullits Lick with Colonel Jack to guard the salt works. He served one month.
– Lazarus Cotten and John Cotten name appears on the 1789 Sumner County TN [then NC] tax list
– about this time Lazarus married his first wife [unknown] in Sumner County
– ca 1790 his son Robert was born.
– ca 1795 son John Cotten was born.
– son James, son Thomas Jefferson 4 March 1800, dau. Susan who married Herring
– Lazarus Cotten married 24 March 1801 in Pasquotack Co NC Sarah White.
– son Vatin , daughter Mary Ann Cotten b. 1806, Natchez Territory MS
she made a deposition in 1823 stated her age as 17 and that she was a daughter of Lazarus Cotten.
she may have married Peyton.
– Lazarus also raised thoroughbred race horses. In the spring of 1805 he raced ‘Greyhound’ against ‘Indian Queen’ belonging to President Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson lost the race and later purchased ‘Greyhound’ from Lazarus Cotten.
– Lazarus married before 1811 Nancy – possibly the widow of John Wood Peyton.
– son Henry Lafayette Cotten born ca 1815, Natchez Territory, MS
– at the Edgecomber County Court 1819 is an entry ‘where Lazarus Cotten and Spenser D Cotten for five hundred pounds, do bind themselves, sealed with their seals, of the condition of the above obligation is such as the above bound Lazarus Cotten and Nancy his wife as by reference to the deed will more fully appear and whereas in consequence of the moneage of the Feme Covert, Nancy Cotten, a clear and sufficient title cannot at this time be given thereto.’
-“In Edgecombe County, NC [Deed Book 16, pages 262-263] on October 4 1823, Lazarus Cotton was in that county selling ‘one half lot of quarter acre of land in the town of Tarborough, being distinguished in the plan of said town by number 63.’ He was then a resident of Natchez Territory, MS and selling to one Henry Austin of Edgecombe County. Henry Austin questioned a clear and right title. This instrument was signed by Lazarus Cotten.”
– He died in 1823 in East Baton Rouge, LA.

Sarah Dew and her 1st husband William Bridgers will Nov 1729 had: Sarah Dew was the daughter of Susannah Shearer & John Dew born 1675 son of John Dew of Isle of Wight VA and grandson of Colonel Thomas Dew of Nansemond Co; Speaker of the House of Burgess 1652. She married first William Bridger who made his will in Bertie Co, NC on March 11, 1728/9; proved Nov Ct:
son William Bridgers to have “plantation whereon I live when he is sixteen”
son Joseph “plantation of Fishing Creek”
son John Bridgers to have 100 acres
daughter Sarah Bridgers
brothers William Bryant (married to Patience Dew) and Benjamin Bridgers
father-in-law John Dew Sr
wife Sarah Bridgers
witnesses John Dawson, William Bryant, Richard Huise, Mary Huise.
On 11 August 1730 Sarah (S) Bridgers, executor of William Bridgers dec. sold to Abraham Bagget for 10, cur VA money 150 acres north of Meherrian River;
Wit Willim Bryant & Francis Brown.1. Sarah Bridgers ca 1721 – married ca 1737 James Cotten ca 1718 – 1758 [son of John d. 1728]a. James Cotten 1738 – bef 1815 b. Henry Cotten 1740 -1785 Halifax Co c. Solomon Cotten 1743-bef 1771 d. Christen Cotten 1746 -dec e. Theophilos Cotten 1749 – 1794 Halifax Comarried 2nd James Jones of Pitch Landinga. Sarah Jones ca 1762 – 1840 Carthage TN married Dec 1783 Hertford Co NC William Walton 1760 – 1816 Carthage TN b. Mary Jones 1 Jan 1764 – 4 July 1825 married Robert Montgomery2. Joseph Bridgers est 1723 –“plantation of Fishing Creek” 3. John Bridgers est 1725 – to have 100 acres 4. William Bridgers est 1727 –son William Bridgers to have “plantation whereon I live when he is sixteen” 5. Patience Bridgers ca 1729 – bef Aug 1767 (She evidently was born after her father wrote his will on March 11 1728/9) married Thomas Cotten [son of John d. 1728]

Will of Micajah Thomas Jr 1788 Nash Co NC [written and proved]
– to my half-brother Josiah Crudup one sorrel horse and wearing apparel
– to my niece Mourning Arrington two negroes
– to my niece Rhoda Ricks small negro girl and bay mare
– to my nieces Temperance and Mary Perry a suit of mourning
– to my father-in-law Philemon Hawkins negroes
– to my daughter Mary Crawford child of the late Elizabeth Crawford of Surry Co VA all my slaves on the north side of the Roanoke River in Northampton Co and land which I purchased of Samuel Cotton and estate of Frederick Ruffin containing 1500 acres; if she dies to her sisters Mourning Thomas and Temperance Thomas Jackson.
– to King 200 acres
– to Solomon Cotton 1000 acres and two years schooling
– to nephew George Boddie 5000 acres in TN
– to nephew Bennett Boddie a gray mare and my favorite gray horse.

the above Solomon Cotton appears to me to be the son of Samuel Cotten Jr. [not the son of James Cotten. That Solomon Cotten had died before 1771.]